So was I missing what the appeal was regarding NHL All-Star Draft this past weekend? I heard the draft process and idea as a whole were received well.
Maybe it will grow on me if the NHL uses the draft format to select sides from the pool of All Stars again. But as of right now, I'm not feeling it.
If the players really liked it, okay, that’s cool. I'm happy they did. Not that hockey players are a hard bunch to please.
One of my favorite players growing up was Brendan Shanahan, and he spearheaded the concept as a way to make it fun for the players. But he also said it was a way to connect with the fans in that it was like a fantasy draft.
I don’t know about my you, but most of my fantasy drafts involve the drafters being hammered half way through, one or two managers set to auto, and one guy who has no idea what he's doing. And I cut at least a third of my team by the end of the season. So it didn't help me identify with a fantasy draft.
I wondered if the strategy of the captains was supposed to appeal to us? We were told part of the fun was it would be like picking teams in a pick-up game. Well that pick-up game, schoolyard process kinda sucks. Can’t we shoot for teams?
I heard at least a handful of times as the captains made their selection, “I’m picking my boy," so-and-so. It was like one of my junior high nightmares playing out for... my boy, David Backes, Friday night.
The actual entry drafts of professional sports leagues are often derided for being made-for-TV dramas, pumped up by the network when they’re really nothing more than a televised lottery. Well this draft was literally just made for TV, and not especially good TV.
The interviewer James Duthie was really quite awful. He was campy, cheesy, forced jokes, tried to hard to be cool with the players, and was somewhat insulting at times rather than engaged in humorous, hockey banter. Players tried to avoid him like I avoided my aunt Donna at holiday gatherings. Duthie's interview style actually reminds me quite a bit of her now that I think about it.
Even what appeal the draft had for viewers didn't carry over into the game for me. I of course rooted for my lone St. Louis Blue and cheered his three assists, but it’s still nice to root for my conference, country or continent. Hard to feel any pride for Team Staal, and it felt weird telling the non-hockey savvy but interested fans, "The blue team won."
And yes, I do at least passively watch the game. Open-ice, end-to-end hockey is still entertaining.
In the end, I hope the players did have a lot of fun with the addition of the draft. They deserve it. Hockey is a tough sport, and anything that adds a little something extra for them at the break is a nice touch.
But as a fan and viewer, the draft just seemed lame, and a lot like a bad reality show. To paraphrase Rick James according to comedian Dave Chappelle, “I wish I had more hands, so I could give that draft, four thumbs down.”
www.twitter.com/timfitz76
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Fitz Blitz on Mel's First Picks
Strictly for this blog, strictly some very Timmy Fitz opinions on this.
I'll start with an early nomination of Nick Fairly for the Regan Upshaw award.
If Mel and other scouts are grading Gabbert as the most pro-ready guy of all the QBs out there, that's a pretty sad indication of the 1st-round caliber QBs. He's got a lot of talent and could end up pretty good, and is a smart guy. But playing him this coming season seems like a really bad idea.
He'll need time to take in the O, and work on his footwork and pocket presence. Too many times he bails on the pocket early and scrambles. He needs to be patient and more settled in pocket in the pros. Otherwise it could be pick central, and his confidence could end up pretty low.
Is Robert Quinn really a good fit for the 49ers? Would he play OLB if they still run a 3-4? What's he weigh now? Missing a year is tough.
Mel's right about his evaluation of Prince. Might still be the way to go for the 49ers.
Aldon Smith of Mizzou should pan out. I'd be surprised if he doesn't. Not sure about moving him to OLB though. Just put on 10 and keep him at DE. I've seen him read screens, draws and reverses well, so maybe in time he can pick it up. I'd have to see what he'd look like in coverage outside of an occasional zone blitz.
Just seems like learning more pass-rush moves would be easier than learning coverages.
Julio Jones is who everybody is picking for the Rams. Super talented, and a big guy. Maybe not the brightest fella, but I think he'll be pretty good.
I might throw up a little if Mikel Leshoure ends up a Patriot.
Lastly, this sums up how to end up on Al Davis' public shit list:
http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2011/01/18/never-make-it-about-money-with-davis/
Timmy Fitz, out.
I'll start with an early nomination of Nick Fairly for the Regan Upshaw award.
If Mel and other scouts are grading Gabbert as the most pro-ready guy of all the QBs out there, that's a pretty sad indication of the 1st-round caliber QBs. He's got a lot of talent and could end up pretty good, and is a smart guy. But playing him this coming season seems like a really bad idea.
He'll need time to take in the O, and work on his footwork and pocket presence. Too many times he bails on the pocket early and scrambles. He needs to be patient and more settled in pocket in the pros. Otherwise it could be pick central, and his confidence could end up pretty low.
Is Robert Quinn really a good fit for the 49ers? Would he play OLB if they still run a 3-4? What's he weigh now? Missing a year is tough.
Mel's right about his evaluation of Prince. Might still be the way to go for the 49ers.
Aldon Smith of Mizzou should pan out. I'd be surprised if he doesn't. Not sure about moving him to OLB though. Just put on 10 and keep him at DE. I've seen him read screens, draws and reverses well, so maybe in time he can pick it up. I'd have to see what he'd look like in coverage outside of an occasional zone blitz.
Just seems like learning more pass-rush moves would be easier than learning coverages.
Julio Jones is who everybody is picking for the Rams. Super talented, and a big guy. Maybe not the brightest fella, but I think he'll be pretty good.
I might throw up a little if Mikel Leshoure ends up a Patriot.
Lastly, this sums up how to end up on Al Davis' public shit list:
http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2011/01/18/never-make-it-about-money-with-davis/
Timmy Fitz, out.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Fitz Blitz for 12/21: Favre knocked out, Vikings Belong Outdoors, Tebow to Lloyd, McClain Makes a Difference
So what was all the fuss about the frozen, icy field in Minnesota for? Many just wrote it off as part of football, myself included. I didn’t know what the big deal was. Hell, I’ve played on icy fields before.
One of the most famous games in NFL history was played on a Frozen Tundra after all. And the Vikings played outdoors for two decades.
But those were all natural surfaces. Not field turf.
We assume there’s going to be big hits in football, which was the players argument against the steep fines and suspensions the NFL is issuing to make the game safer. But the game has changed, so it’s best the rules change.
We also assume there are going to be frozen fields in late December, and that it’s just part of football like big collisions. But the players felt it was a bit hypocritical to subject them to these field conditions if the league is so concerned about safety.
After players inspected the field, the loudest and longest complaint came from a punter, of course, who set punters and kickers back another 10 years. But it appears the players had a gripe.
Unfortunately this change in venue was due to a difficult situation, not like the rule changes involving every-game occurrences. Bringing in a new layer of turf or tracks of sod was not an option in the conditions that had been going on there for the past week. Going too far out of Minnesota was not really fair or desirable either.
Favre’s head injury could have happened on a warm sunny field in California, but it adds to the likelihood of a concussion when you hit up against a harder surface.
This wasn’t so much the Ice Bowl as much as it was like 49er Joe Montana being driven to the turf in the old Meadowlands... or Joe Montana the Chief being swung down on the rock-hard Astroturf of Rich Stadium in Buffalo.
It was a tough situation, leaving the NFL between a rock and frozen field turf. Unlike the Saints predicament in New Orleans after Katrina, the city of Minneapolis was not decimated. Vacating to another city would have been a bit extreme.
*I was surprised the Vikings thought there would be a problem with stadium size discrepancy. Really? The team’s eliminated, it’s freezing out, you’re not serving alcohol, you tell people it will be first come first serve, and you were expecting a log jam for seats?
They were even more fortunate that Brett Favre was questionable to avoid this problem. I wonder if they’re was a late rush for tickets when fans learned Favre was starting?
Favre’s pre-game comment the cameras caught before taking the field suggests he’s done. He paused before he said it, the camera zoomed in, and he asked his teammates to help an old man to go out in style.
*Phil Krinkie of the Minnesota Taxpayers League said replacing the Metrodome because of storm damage makes about as much sense as replacing the New Orleans Superdome because it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. And because the last time the roof collapsed was in 1983, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the roof design.
Please, you’ve got to be kidding me. Have you seen the Metrodome?
I don’t much about you, Mr. Krinkie, nor am I from Minnesota, but If you didn’t know the big trash bag needed replacing before this roof collapse, I would question whether you’re a real Minnesotan or Minne... Minneapolean? Minneaplolian? Minneapoline? I’m going with Minneapoline. Correct me if I’m wrong.
You and the San Diegans can wonder if your team is bolting for Los Angeles together.
*It was a beautiful site seeing football outdoors in Minnesota. Domes allow more functions to occur there year round, which is great for the city.
But for the sporting events of their main tenants, it ruins the atmosphere and experience. A .500 team will sell out an outdoor football stadium in Minneapolis. Perhaps something in a retractable model would be a nice compromise?
The Metrodome was a 1980s second generation model of the cookie-cutter, multi-sport stadiums of the 1960s. Multi-sport stadiums were a great idea, but the geometries just don’t work for crossing football and baseball.
And I found myself rooting for the Vikes last night. That didn’t work out so well.
My old St. Louis connections with the Bears coaches were trumped by my Raider-induced dislike of Jay Cutler. I went with the over-dramatic QB rather than the over-rated one. Oh well.
*Speaking of the Raiders, Rolondo McClain made his presence felt this past week. Sure it was against the sorry Broncos who were without Knowshon Moreno, but it still counts.
McClain hadn’t made as many plays as a lot of Raider fans wanted early on in the season. In his absence, it become apparent the progress the rookie had made. In the two games without him, the Raiders run defense regressed to the form of the previous seven seasons.
*And Greg Lloyd had a good game Sunday in Oakland. He can make spectacular, diving, leaping, one-handed grabs, but drops the routine ones. Lloyd’s been known as a bad-ball catcher in his career. If that reputation continues, he should really excel playing with Tim Tebow.
Not a bad debut for Tebow though. This QB thing might work out for him yet.
*Lastly, I missed my chance to vote for the pro-bowl again this year. And I don’t feel bad this time. Unlike a mid-season game in other sports, I’d rather the guys just go home than play in the Pro Bowl. I should have worn out my mouse clicking Darren McFadden’s name, but I’d rather he just rest.
If players and coaches can’t realize what type of player he is after the fan vote, then that’s an indictment on the people around the league, and it will give me another blog entry to write that indictment.
Happy Holidays everyone! Safe travels to you all!
www.twitter.com/timfitz76
One of the most famous games in NFL history was played on a Frozen Tundra after all. And the Vikings played outdoors for two decades.
But those were all natural surfaces. Not field turf.
We assume there’s going to be big hits in football, which was the players argument against the steep fines and suspensions the NFL is issuing to make the game safer. But the game has changed, so it’s best the rules change.
We also assume there are going to be frozen fields in late December, and that it’s just part of football like big collisions. But the players felt it was a bit hypocritical to subject them to these field conditions if the league is so concerned about safety.
After players inspected the field, the loudest and longest complaint came from a punter, of course, who set punters and kickers back another 10 years. But it appears the players had a gripe.
Unfortunately this change in venue was due to a difficult situation, not like the rule changes involving every-game occurrences. Bringing in a new layer of turf or tracks of sod was not an option in the conditions that had been going on there for the past week. Going too far out of Minnesota was not really fair or desirable either.
Favre’s head injury could have happened on a warm sunny field in California, but it adds to the likelihood of a concussion when you hit up against a harder surface.
This wasn’t so much the Ice Bowl as much as it was like 49er Joe Montana being driven to the turf in the old Meadowlands... or Joe Montana the Chief being swung down on the rock-hard Astroturf of Rich Stadium in Buffalo.
It was a tough situation, leaving the NFL between a rock and frozen field turf. Unlike the Saints predicament in New Orleans after Katrina, the city of Minneapolis was not decimated. Vacating to another city would have been a bit extreme.
*I was surprised the Vikings thought there would be a problem with stadium size discrepancy. Really? The team’s eliminated, it’s freezing out, you’re not serving alcohol, you tell people it will be first come first serve, and you were expecting a log jam for seats?
They were even more fortunate that Brett Favre was questionable to avoid this problem. I wonder if they’re was a late rush for tickets when fans learned Favre was starting?
Favre’s pre-game comment the cameras caught before taking the field suggests he’s done. He paused before he said it, the camera zoomed in, and he asked his teammates to help an old man to go out in style.
*Phil Krinkie of the Minnesota Taxpayers League said replacing the Metrodome because of storm damage makes about as much sense as replacing the New Orleans Superdome because it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. And because the last time the roof collapsed was in 1983, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the roof design.
Please, you’ve got to be kidding me. Have you seen the Metrodome?
I don’t much about you, Mr. Krinkie, nor am I from Minnesota, but If you didn’t know the big trash bag needed replacing before this roof collapse, I would question whether you’re a real Minnesotan or Minne... Minneapolean? Minneaplolian? Minneapoline? I’m going with Minneapoline. Correct me if I’m wrong.
You and the San Diegans can wonder if your team is bolting for Los Angeles together.
*It was a beautiful site seeing football outdoors in Minnesota. Domes allow more functions to occur there year round, which is great for the city.
But for the sporting events of their main tenants, it ruins the atmosphere and experience. A .500 team will sell out an outdoor football stadium in Minneapolis. Perhaps something in a retractable model would be a nice compromise?
The Metrodome was a 1980s second generation model of the cookie-cutter, multi-sport stadiums of the 1960s. Multi-sport stadiums were a great idea, but the geometries just don’t work for crossing football and baseball.
And I found myself rooting for the Vikes last night. That didn’t work out so well.
My old St. Louis connections with the Bears coaches were trumped by my Raider-induced dislike of Jay Cutler. I went with the over-dramatic QB rather than the over-rated one. Oh well.
*Speaking of the Raiders, Rolondo McClain made his presence felt this past week. Sure it was against the sorry Broncos who were without Knowshon Moreno, but it still counts.
McClain hadn’t made as many plays as a lot of Raider fans wanted early on in the season. In his absence, it become apparent the progress the rookie had made. In the two games without him, the Raiders run defense regressed to the form of the previous seven seasons.
*And Greg Lloyd had a good game Sunday in Oakland. He can make spectacular, diving, leaping, one-handed grabs, but drops the routine ones. Lloyd’s been known as a bad-ball catcher in his career. If that reputation continues, he should really excel playing with Tim Tebow.
Not a bad debut for Tebow though. This QB thing might work out for him yet.
*Lastly, I missed my chance to vote for the pro-bowl again this year. And I don’t feel bad this time. Unlike a mid-season game in other sports, I’d rather the guys just go home than play in the Pro Bowl. I should have worn out my mouse clicking Darren McFadden’s name, but I’d rather he just rest.
If players and coaches can’t realize what type of player he is after the fan vote, then that’s an indictment on the people around the league, and it will give me another blog entry to write that indictment.
Happy Holidays everyone! Safe travels to you all!
www.twitter.com/timfitz76
Friday, December 10, 2010
Covering Vick, and Big Ben Makes Me Sick
I feel I have to start with this disclaimer when talking about moving on from further shaming Michael Vick for his past:
I’m an avid dog lover. I treat mine as if he were my son. Parent and pack leader aren’t that different after all. I have owned over a dozen dogs in my life, and have treated them all like family.
I donate to the SPCA and The Humane Society. My mother and aunt are serous animal rights activist. My aunt has created and sponsored legislation in California to further animal rights, and I fully support her.
I helped get prop B in Missouri to regulate dog breeders and stop puppy mills passed by writing pieces to inform the public of the special provisions the new laws would provide.
Plus, I haven’t eaten a fellow mammal in over 10 years.
AND I think Michael Vick should be allowed to play in the NFL.
Sure, I wanted Vick to serve his full 24-month sentence instead of being released after 18 months. When he first got out of prison, I wanted an eight-game (half-season) suspension. I definitely didn’t want him signing with the two NFL teams I love, and the cities I represent, Oakland and St. Louis.
If I were a GM or coach immediately after his release, I wouldn’t have wanted him to play QB. He’d have to learn another position. Hell, I didn’t think I’d be able to look him in the eye if I saw him in person.
He would have to prove himself to me. And he has.
I don’t claim to be able to see someone’s aura or peer into their soul when looking into their eyes. But there is a different vibe about Vick now from his dog-fighting days.
You can see the simple, humbleness. You can see the shame. You can see change in the way he speaks and acts.
Even the sight of him in his green Eagles jersey is more psychologically soothing than clips of him in his Falcons uniform. Knowing what was going on in his life then attaches a blood-on-his-hands connotation in that blood-red jersey.
But playing football is his job. If more felons were allowed to return to work after passing a series of tests and receiving approval from a commissioner-type figure, we’d have a lot less repeat offenders. I mean, corporate criminals are often allowed to re-enter their field, so fair is fair.
He could have been banned by the NFL or suspended a full season, and thus played in a lesser league. But being a big fish in a small pond wouldn’t have finished his transformation on and off the field. He may have never fixed some bad habits in his footwork and reads. Nor Would he have been as humbled.
Being a relatively broke, back-up QB on a winning team with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb was critical. Having to struggle for his next pay would be good for him, and would continue the process of learning from his mistakes.
He had to have his status as a starting QB taken away from as well as his freedom. And immediately getting a big contract may have lead to him keeping other bad habits.
It’s best he slowly earns his money for his improved performance. And it is best he eventually does get a big pay day again.
The more he makes, the more that can be funneled to his creditors, to the care for the dogs he killed and psychologically damaged, and for future funds allocated to animal rights causes. And I guess his lawyers should get their cut too.
I am still looking for quotes or an interview from Vick about how his view of dogs and animals has changed since his incarceration for my own personal feelings to be truly clear on Michael Vick.
But as far as covering him as a football player, and inquiring into whether or not he’s reformed as a human being, I think the sports media has done a good job. I feel they address his past properly when covering the present.
I would prefer the rest of the mainstream media cover dog fighting stings and prosecutions as vigorously when a famous athlete isn’t involved as they did with Vick.
I don’t blame the NFL for wanting Vick to remain in their league. Him playing the UFL or an Arena league would not only take attention and revenue away from them, but I do feel they actually cared about how his life turned out. If he failed, it would look bad on the league, and they wanted to get him under their now stricter supervision.
I realize some can’t forgive Vick for not thinking he was doing anything wrong while involved in dog fighting. But it’s a different world where he’s from.
Newport News Virginia is country and ghetto. That’s a bad combo, and a breeding ground for dog fighting, literally.
And honestly, though I love dogs and animals, I do feel there are current players in the NFL who have gotten away with worse. And that’s just the ones we know of, and I’m sure plenty there’s plenty that we don’t.
From Leonard Little, to Dante Stallworth, to Lawerence Phillips, to Lawerence Taylor, to well... Big Ben Roethlisberger (who, by the way, said the most phony-sounding “God is good” in his post-game interview after beating the Baltimore Ravens) there have been plenty of less-than reputable characters allowed to play in the NFL.
The same fuss is not made over them. Which shows how far animal rights have come, but also shows a double standard.
Which on a side note creates more confusion for me on how some these guys are still playing and out of jail, while Plaxico Burress gets more time for shooting himself? I guess I’ll never get that one.
So it’s okay to root for Vick. Believing in reform over banishment does not make you a bad person. Oh, and I almost forgot, God is good.
http://twitter.com/Timfitz76
I’m an avid dog lover. I treat mine as if he were my son. Parent and pack leader aren’t that different after all. I have owned over a dozen dogs in my life, and have treated them all like family.
I donate to the SPCA and The Humane Society. My mother and aunt are serous animal rights activist. My aunt has created and sponsored legislation in California to further animal rights, and I fully support her.
I helped get prop B in Missouri to regulate dog breeders and stop puppy mills passed by writing pieces to inform the public of the special provisions the new laws would provide.
Plus, I haven’t eaten a fellow mammal in over 10 years.
AND I think Michael Vick should be allowed to play in the NFL.
Sure, I wanted Vick to serve his full 24-month sentence instead of being released after 18 months. When he first got out of prison, I wanted an eight-game (half-season) suspension. I definitely didn’t want him signing with the two NFL teams I love, and the cities I represent, Oakland and St. Louis.
If I were a GM or coach immediately after his release, I wouldn’t have wanted him to play QB. He’d have to learn another position. Hell, I didn’t think I’d be able to look him in the eye if I saw him in person.
He would have to prove himself to me. And he has.
I don’t claim to be able to see someone’s aura or peer into their soul when looking into their eyes. But there is a different vibe about Vick now from his dog-fighting days.
You can see the simple, humbleness. You can see the shame. You can see change in the way he speaks and acts.
Even the sight of him in his green Eagles jersey is more psychologically soothing than clips of him in his Falcons uniform. Knowing what was going on in his life then attaches a blood-on-his-hands connotation in that blood-red jersey.
But playing football is his job. If more felons were allowed to return to work after passing a series of tests and receiving approval from a commissioner-type figure, we’d have a lot less repeat offenders. I mean, corporate criminals are often allowed to re-enter their field, so fair is fair.
He could have been banned by the NFL or suspended a full season, and thus played in a lesser league. But being a big fish in a small pond wouldn’t have finished his transformation on and off the field. He may have never fixed some bad habits in his footwork and reads. Nor Would he have been as humbled.
Being a relatively broke, back-up QB on a winning team with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb was critical. Having to struggle for his next pay would be good for him, and would continue the process of learning from his mistakes.
He had to have his status as a starting QB taken away from as well as his freedom. And immediately getting a big contract may have lead to him keeping other bad habits.
It’s best he slowly earns his money for his improved performance. And it is best he eventually does get a big pay day again.
The more he makes, the more that can be funneled to his creditors, to the care for the dogs he killed and psychologically damaged, and for future funds allocated to animal rights causes. And I guess his lawyers should get their cut too.
I am still looking for quotes or an interview from Vick about how his view of dogs and animals has changed since his incarceration for my own personal feelings to be truly clear on Michael Vick.
But as far as covering him as a football player, and inquiring into whether or not he’s reformed as a human being, I think the sports media has done a good job. I feel they address his past properly when covering the present.
I would prefer the rest of the mainstream media cover dog fighting stings and prosecutions as vigorously when a famous athlete isn’t involved as they did with Vick.
I don’t blame the NFL for wanting Vick to remain in their league. Him playing the UFL or an Arena league would not only take attention and revenue away from them, but I do feel they actually cared about how his life turned out. If he failed, it would look bad on the league, and they wanted to get him under their now stricter supervision.
I realize some can’t forgive Vick for not thinking he was doing anything wrong while involved in dog fighting. But it’s a different world where he’s from.
Newport News Virginia is country and ghetto. That’s a bad combo, and a breeding ground for dog fighting, literally.
And honestly, though I love dogs and animals, I do feel there are current players in the NFL who have gotten away with worse. And that’s just the ones we know of, and I’m sure plenty there’s plenty that we don’t.
From Leonard Little, to Dante Stallworth, to Lawerence Phillips, to Lawerence Taylor, to well... Big Ben Roethlisberger (who, by the way, said the most phony-sounding “God is good” in his post-game interview after beating the Baltimore Ravens) there have been plenty of less-than reputable characters allowed to play in the NFL.
The same fuss is not made over them. Which shows how far animal rights have come, but also shows a double standard.
Which on a side note creates more confusion for me on how some these guys are still playing and out of jail, while Plaxico Burress gets more time for shooting himself? I guess I’ll never get that one.
So it’s okay to root for Vick. Believing in reform over banishment does not make you a bad person. Oh, and I almost forgot, God is good.
http://twitter.com/Timfitz76
Keeping Brendan Ryan Not the Worst Option for the St. Louis Cardinals
When the Cardinals acquired Ryan Theriot from the Dodgers, and proclaimed him their staring shortstop, the question arose of what to do with former starting shortstop Brendan Ryan.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, has explored trade options for Ryan to get either a big leaguer or depth for the minors. Teams that were looking for shortstop help like the Orioles, Padres, and Pirates filled their needs through other acquisitions of more established players.
The other option is keeping Ryan as utility infielder for the 2011 team.
Ryan’s play has lead to me yelling out loud at my television on a number of occasions. Often in awe. Just as often in anger.
So many times I’ve wanted Ryan to just put the ball in his pocket instead of trying a difficult, unnecessary throw. He has great range and a strong arm, but is erratic.
For too long his default throwing motion was a sidearm, slinging action. His thinking was if his throw was off, he’d be better off missing to the side rather than throwing over the first baseman. I never liked that theory, as it incorporates planning to fail.
Last year he took his troubles at the plate into the field. He searched for the proper feel at plate instead of sticking with an approach and just locking in on the ball.
Much has been made of how his quirky, hyperactive personality blends in the clubhouse. I’m personality more bothered how personality leads to his unfocused play on the field.
I would think he’s probably a great guy and fun to hang out with, though it may be difficult to be around that kind of personality 162-plus days in your workplace. I’d most likely be one of his teammates that has told him to sit down and shut up at some point.
Tony La Russa says his personality and maturity level is not the reason for him being on the trade block, and that he’s matured. And I believe him. Ryan has grown up quite a bit, and has mellowed out. It just takes a while to come down from a sugar buzz of Ryan’s magnitude.
But his game hasn’t fully matured either, as he’s slowly grown as a player.
That, however, is part of his upside. He’s still a young player. It’s one of the reasons him being a Cardinal in 2011 isn’t a bad option at all.
The parts of his game he needs to fix, such as plate discipline, smarter decisions in field, and base running, are things a young, part-time player usually improves on if he becomes a regular.
He has the range and strong arm, good speed and has hit well every other season in the bigs. And he’s most likely going to remain inexpensive this season.
If Skip Schumaker or Theriot struggles during the season, he’s there to fill in. Schumaker is a clubhouse and La Russa favorite. He’s a hard worker and smart player who normally gets on base and makes good contact.
But he’s still new to second base. He needs to shuffle his feet more on his throws instead of planting and throwing like and outfielder and he must improve on bending down to get grounders.
Though I like the acquisition of Theriot, he had his worst year at plate last season, and doesn’t have the defensive range of Ryan. So there’s a need for a back-up plan at both of these positions.
Spring performances can’t be ignored either if one of the starting middle infielder struggles mightily and Ryan plays well.
He would also be very helpful to a Cardinal team that had an uncharacteristically poor year in the field last season. Based on the reputations of the players added during the winter meetings and the positions they will be playing, the Cardinals have downgraded defensively.
Picture a La Russa-style, late-inning defensive change while ahead by a couple runs. Ryan can come in to play short, with Theriot moving to 2nd, and Skip heading out to RF for the newly acquired Lance Berkman. It’s a lot better than bringing in Aaron Miles, right?
I felt shortstop was the higher priority for an upgrade this offseason. Schumaker has at least hit consistently at the major league level. Last year was his worst full season in the big leagues, and was probably an aberration.
Schumaker can play second base and all of the outfield positions. He also and makes more money, so it wasn’t as important or as feasible to jettison Skip.
I’ve been pretty hard on Brendan Ryan in the past. He’s frustrated me with his inconsistent play and poor decisions. But he can bring value for the Cardinals as a player on the 2011 team, and I’m certainly in favor of him sticking around -- as many Cards fans probably are.
This relegation to a utility role could be just the motivation, and kick in the pants he needs, which makes Ryan a nice option for the Cards to keep in their pocket.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, has explored trade options for Ryan to get either a big leaguer or depth for the minors. Teams that were looking for shortstop help like the Orioles, Padres, and Pirates filled their needs through other acquisitions of more established players.
The other option is keeping Ryan as utility infielder for the 2011 team.
Ryan’s play has lead to me yelling out loud at my television on a number of occasions. Often in awe. Just as often in anger.
So many times I’ve wanted Ryan to just put the ball in his pocket instead of trying a difficult, unnecessary throw. He has great range and a strong arm, but is erratic.
For too long his default throwing motion was a sidearm, slinging action. His thinking was if his throw was off, he’d be better off missing to the side rather than throwing over the first baseman. I never liked that theory, as it incorporates planning to fail.
Last year he took his troubles at the plate into the field. He searched for the proper feel at plate instead of sticking with an approach and just locking in on the ball.
Much has been made of how his quirky, hyperactive personality blends in the clubhouse. I’m personality more bothered how personality leads to his unfocused play on the field.
I would think he’s probably a great guy and fun to hang out with, though it may be difficult to be around that kind of personality 162-plus days in your workplace. I’d most likely be one of his teammates that has told him to sit down and shut up at some point.
Tony La Russa says his personality and maturity level is not the reason for him being on the trade block, and that he’s matured. And I believe him. Ryan has grown up quite a bit, and has mellowed out. It just takes a while to come down from a sugar buzz of Ryan’s magnitude.
But his game hasn’t fully matured either, as he’s slowly grown as a player.
That, however, is part of his upside. He’s still a young player. It’s one of the reasons him being a Cardinal in 2011 isn’t a bad option at all.
The parts of his game he needs to fix, such as plate discipline, smarter decisions in field, and base running, are things a young, part-time player usually improves on if he becomes a regular.
He has the range and strong arm, good speed and has hit well every other season in the bigs. And he’s most likely going to remain inexpensive this season.
If Skip Schumaker or Theriot struggles during the season, he’s there to fill in. Schumaker is a clubhouse and La Russa favorite. He’s a hard worker and smart player who normally gets on base and makes good contact.
But he’s still new to second base. He needs to shuffle his feet more on his throws instead of planting and throwing like and outfielder and he must improve on bending down to get grounders.
Though I like the acquisition of Theriot, he had his worst year at plate last season, and doesn’t have the defensive range of Ryan. So there’s a need for a back-up plan at both of these positions.
Spring performances can’t be ignored either if one of the starting middle infielder struggles mightily and Ryan plays well.
He would also be very helpful to a Cardinal team that had an uncharacteristically poor year in the field last season. Based on the reputations of the players added during the winter meetings and the positions they will be playing, the Cardinals have downgraded defensively.
Picture a La Russa-style, late-inning defensive change while ahead by a couple runs. Ryan can come in to play short, with Theriot moving to 2nd, and Skip heading out to RF for the newly acquired Lance Berkman. It’s a lot better than bringing in Aaron Miles, right?
I felt shortstop was the higher priority for an upgrade this offseason. Schumaker has at least hit consistently at the major league level. Last year was his worst full season in the big leagues, and was probably an aberration.
Schumaker can play second base and all of the outfield positions. He also and makes more money, so it wasn’t as important or as feasible to jettison Skip.
I’ve been pretty hard on Brendan Ryan in the past. He’s frustrated me with his inconsistent play and poor decisions. But he can bring value for the Cardinals as a player on the 2011 team, and I’m certainly in favor of him sticking around -- as many Cards fans probably are.
This relegation to a utility role could be just the motivation, and kick in the pants he needs, which makes Ryan a nice option for the Cards to keep in their pocket.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday Quick Hits for the Fitz Blitz
Some quick hits and analysis from week 12 of the NFL.
First things first, my fan level for Andre Johnson climbed a few notches yesterday. Way to get the helmet off and deliver some quality punches. He wasn't on skates, but that's not bad.
I find the first couple of paragraphs here hilarious. I'm also very curious as to what will come out of this new video taping scandal. Though I refuse to use the suffix "gate" to describe it. The apple doesn't fall far from the coaching tree.
It's pretty obvious DeSean Jackson still has the hit he received against Atlanta on his mind. He alligator-armed a potential TD against the Bears yesterday. That has to be difficult to get back to going over the middle. Only human to be a little leery of that situation still. Might take an offseason to feel comfortable with that again.
There is a proper way to still make that catch and protect yourself at the same time though. A speedster like him will learn the subtleties of body positioning with experience. If he turns his body while catching it, he may take a hit, but not to the head. I'm sure his coaches will address that with him.
And the late, great, comedian George Carlin would really appreciate the candor of Stevie Johnson of the Buffalo Bills.
From his twitter feed @steviejohnson13 shortly after dropping what would have been a wide-open, TD reception against the Steelers in OT. "I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO..."
George Carlin wrote and performed these lines, "Can’t we silence these Christian athletes who thank Jesus whenever they win and never mention his name when they lose? You never hear them say, 'Jesus made me drop the ball' or, 'The good Lord tripped me up behind the line of scrimmage.'" Hilarious. Way to break the mold Stevie!
Today Johnson addressed the quote on twitter with the tweet of, "And No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously??!? CMon! I Simply Cried Out And Asked Why? Jus Like yal did wen sumthin went wrong n ur life!"
I'll say this young man, I've learned to not ask why God would do anything to me, or how he could allow it to happen. It is what it is, and as it should be. Look it in.
http://twitter.com/Timfitz76
First things first, my fan level for Andre Johnson climbed a few notches yesterday. Way to get the helmet off and deliver some quality punches. He wasn't on skates, but that's not bad.
I find the first couple of paragraphs here hilarious. I'm also very curious as to what will come out of this new video taping scandal. Though I refuse to use the suffix "gate" to describe it. The apple doesn't fall far from the coaching tree.
It's pretty obvious DeSean Jackson still has the hit he received against Atlanta on his mind. He alligator-armed a potential TD against the Bears yesterday. That has to be difficult to get back to going over the middle. Only human to be a little leery of that situation still. Might take an offseason to feel comfortable with that again.
There is a proper way to still make that catch and protect yourself at the same time though. A speedster like him will learn the subtleties of body positioning with experience. If he turns his body while catching it, he may take a hit, but not to the head. I'm sure his coaches will address that with him.
And the late, great, comedian George Carlin would really appreciate the candor of Stevie Johnson of the Buffalo Bills.
From his twitter feed @steviejohnson13 shortly after dropping what would have been a wide-open, TD reception against the Steelers in OT. "I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO..."
George Carlin wrote and performed these lines, "Can’t we silence these Christian athletes who thank Jesus whenever they win and never mention his name when they lose? You never hear them say, 'Jesus made me drop the ball' or, 'The good Lord tripped me up behind the line of scrimmage.'" Hilarious. Way to break the mold Stevie!
Today Johnson addressed the quote on twitter with the tweet of, "And No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously??!? CMon! I Simply Cried Out And Asked Why? Jus Like yal did wen sumthin went wrong n ur life!"
I'll say this young man, I've learned to not ask why God would do anything to me, or how he could allow it to happen. It is what it is, and as it should be. Look it in.
http://twitter.com/Timfitz76
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Raiders Offense Will Go As Far As O-Line Takes Them
The changes the Oakland Raiders made in the offseason have gotten a lot of attention from the media and fans.
They traded for quarterback Jason Campbell, ditched Jamarcus Russell, completely re-tooled the defensive front seven, and hired a new offensive coordinator in Hue Jackson.
But the Raiders offensive line remained rather stagnant, and it deserves major scrutiny.
All five current starters on the line were with the team last season. Two mid-round draft picks, two free-agent rookies, a second year free agent, and one veteran back up were added to the roster.
None of those players are expected to be plugged into the lineup for the season opener. They are here to provide depth, or are talented projects who will most likely need some time before they are ready to start.
Last season the Raiders finished 21st in rushing yards gained, and allowed the third most sacks in the NFL. That's a bad combo. Though no Russell should help bring the sack total down.
Most offenses go as far as their offensive line takes them. Only one playoff team from 2009 finished in the bottom half of the league in both rushing yards and sacks allowed. That team was the first-round knockout, Philadelphia Eagles.
The Raiders certainly lack the offensive weapons the 2009 Eagles had, and definitely didn't pressure the QB or force turnovers like them.
It's great to have a new quarterback who can complete almost 65 percent of his passes, and who has had his completion percentage increase each of the past three seasons. The Raiders haven't had a QB start all 16 games and complete over 60 percent of his passes since Rich Gannon in 2002.
But if he can't stay upright, it will be hard for him to complete many passes. Campbell had to deal with poor protection in Washington, which affected his accuracy on down field throws, and it may follow him here.
Let's look at the top eight offensive linemen and what they bring to the table.
Mario Henderson - LT
Hederson came on strong in 2008 after getting out of former head coach Lane Kiffin's dog house. He parlayed that strong finish into an opportunity to start in 2009.
He had a great training camp, which re-assured the coaching staff he could be the starting left tackle. There wasn't much competition to fend off however after Kalif Barnes fractured his foot.
Since becoming the full-time left tackle, Henderson has been inconsistent. His lack of focus appears on the field at times, as he will just flat out miss a pass rusher going by him. Other times he gets in trouble by not moving his feet or leaning too far forward.
Mel Kiper's knock on him coming out of Florida State was that he was very athletic and a great physical specimen, but hadn't put it all together yet. You know, Al Davis' type of guy.
Without being inside the Raiders' facility every day, it's hard to know how that lack of focus or motivation manifests itself. Does he watch as much film as he should? Is he studious when watching the film? Or has he just gotten comfortable knowing there's not much competition for his spot?
Whatever the problem may be, he's shown flashes of great play, is very talented, and is still a young player. The Raiders need him to play more consistently, as left tackle is the most critical to pass protection. Hopefully rookie Jared Veldheer or Barnes can put some pressure on him to play better.
Robert Gallery - LG
It's been a long, strange journey for Gallery as an Oakland Raider. Not that it hasn't been strange for most long-tenured Raiders, but Gallery's has been exceptionally turbulent.
After being considered a bust as the second-overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft at left and right tackle, Gallery has settled into being the team's starting left guard, and its top offensive lineman. He many not be quick enough to play tackle in the NFL, but he is for a guard and is definitely strong enough to handle interior lineman.
Gallery missed 10 contests last season, and tried to play through other games banged up. When he went down, a lot of o-line shuffling occurred and the Raiders offensive-line struggles were magnified.
The Raiders need Gallery to be on the field or they can expect to struggle offensively again.
Samson Satele - C
The Raiders acquired Satele from the Miami Dolphins in 2009 for a fourth and sixth round draft pick, after the Dolphins signed former Raider center Jake Grove in free agency.
The knock on Satele in Miami was that he couldn't handle blocking the big interior lineman of the NFL. Most reviews said he wasn't able to push them, and they could push him.
Well, that evaluation has been true of his time as a Raider too. Satele and the Raiders attributed his problems with moving big lineman to a shoulder injury he suffered in 2008. He had his torn labrum fixed before coming over to the Raiders. One would expect his shoulder to still be weak just months removed from a procedure like that, and he also missed time with a calf injury last season.
However in the preseason opener against Dallas, we saw the same problems again. Satele had trouble pushing the Cowboys lineman backwards on run plays, and would get shoved into the backfield in pass protection. Too often we saw him looking backwards as the player he was blocking made a tackle.
If Satele can't handle the rigors of center in the NFL, he may find himself replaced by young-veteran Chris Morris or rookie Jered Veldheer.
Cooper Carlilse - RG
Former Denver Bronco Cooper Carlisle is the type of lineman Cable, then the offensive line coach, wanted for his zone blocking scheme when he was hired by Kiffin.
Yes, it felt gross mentioning the Broncos and Kiffin in the same sentence.
Carlisle is quick, pulls well, and gets down field. He's light for a modern NFL guard, as he is listed at 295 lbs. Unlike Satele, he is able to push lineman down field on run plays or at least do a good job of turning them to create a seal and an alley to run through. (Picture Vince Lombardi at the chalk board)
But like Satele, he gets pushed backwards by big interior lineman on pass plays. So Carlisle grades out as pretty average. He's steady if unspectacular, fits the system well, and is durable.
The Raiders will hang on to him until his pass-blocking becomes a major liability or they find a top-flight guard or younger player with a higher upside to replace him.
Langston Walker - RT
Where do I begin? First, let's address the obvious question most Raider fans have regarding Walker.
Why is he still here?
Is he back to be our designated field-goal blocker?
What seemed to be just an injury- necessitated, in-season signing last season with a familiar player, turned into a resigning and a starting spot for the 2010 season. I don't get it.
He was deemed not good enough to be resigned after the 2006 season, which he wasn't, and went to Buffalo. He was released by the Bills after two-and-a-half seasons, and was picked up by the Raiders when multiple lineman went down with injuries last year.
Langston is big and strong, but that's about it. He is not mobile enough for offensive tackle or to be in the Raiders zone blocking scheme. And he commits far too many penalties.
My good friend and Raiders season ticket holder, Todd Fournoy, refers to Walker as, "The Stuart Schweigert of the offensive line." As you can imagine, he didn't like Stuart Schweigert.
Walker is obviously someone Davis likes, and is a former second round pick out of Cal Berkeley in 2002.
Even with being a Davis favorite, I don't expect him to remain in the starting line up throughout the season due to his poor play. He could be replaced by Veldheer, Barnes, Henderson if he is moved from left tackle, or several street free agents and UFL players looking for NFL jobs.
Jared Veldheer - T/C
The rookie's name has been mentioned a few times in this article already. Veldheer was drafted in the third round out of football powerhouse, Hillsdale college. I assume it's somewhere near the mall.
Even though he is from a small school in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, he is a big guy with big-time talent. We've already heard from Jerry McDonald that he has done well in one-on-one passing drills and plays from scrimmage.
At 6'8" and 315 lbs, he fits the bill to play tackle in the NFL. He is very athletic for his size and seems to be a bright guy, as he is picking up two positions rather quickly.
He didn't just play well against his small school's competition in college, he dominated it. His progress will determine if the Raiders can move one of their problematic, weaker lineman to the bench and replace them with the more talented Veldheer this season.
Bruce Campbell - G/T
Campbell is a Davis type of guy as well. He's big, fast, strong, was a workout warrior, and has a lot of potential. Many draft "experts" expected Davis to take him in the first round. Instead the Raiders took him in the fourth.
Like Veldheer, the Raiders are having Campbell learn two positions to increase his versatility. He's had good moments and bad moments so far in camp. But overall, you can see the potential due to his athletic ability.
He was banged up in his junior season at Maryland, playing in nine games, but only finishing seven of them. He's still raw and inexperienced and will probably take two to three years to develop. But his upside makes him worth keeping an eye on, and keeping hope for him to improve the Raiders o-line down the road.
Chris Morris - C/G
A seventh round draft pick of the Raiders in 2006 out of Michigan State, Morris is versatile and steady, and started 10 games last season after only starting once in his previous three seasons.
It's unclear if Morris can be a starter in the NFL. He did okay filling in for various injured Raiders offensive lineman. He was the starting center for a stretch last year, filling in for Satele while his shoulder was still weak and had an injured calf, and then played guard after Gallery was injured.
He played better than Satele for while last season, and is pressuring him again for playing time. He's best suited for center, is still only 27 years old, and has only started 11 games in his career.
Satele makes more money than Morris, so the Raiders have to start the season with the depth chart at center as it is now. But If Satele continues to get pushed into the backfield, Morris could get another shot to be the Raiders starting center and should hang on to the job this time.
So there they are. The Raiders top eight. One potential pro-bowl caliber guard, and a lot of question marks.
The young Raider lineman are the unknown variables in the offensive line equation. Their progress determines if the Raiders have to stay with the veterans if they struggle and how much the Raiders o-line as a whole can improve from within.
It's important to have skill and speed, but without time or running lanes to use the speed, it's all for naught. The Raiders will have to rely on quick-hitting plays, rather than their beloved deep ball if the offensive line doesn't improve.
If it doesn't improve, the quarterback turnstile, and losing records, will continue.
They traded for quarterback Jason Campbell, ditched Jamarcus Russell, completely re-tooled the defensive front seven, and hired a new offensive coordinator in Hue Jackson.
But the Raiders offensive line remained rather stagnant, and it deserves major scrutiny.
All five current starters on the line were with the team last season. Two mid-round draft picks, two free-agent rookies, a second year free agent, and one veteran back up were added to the roster.
None of those players are expected to be plugged into the lineup for the season opener. They are here to provide depth, or are talented projects who will most likely need some time before they are ready to start.
Last season the Raiders finished 21st in rushing yards gained, and allowed the third most sacks in the NFL. That's a bad combo. Though no Russell should help bring the sack total down.
Most offenses go as far as their offensive line takes them. Only one playoff team from 2009 finished in the bottom half of the league in both rushing yards and sacks allowed. That team was the first-round knockout, Philadelphia Eagles.
The Raiders certainly lack the offensive weapons the 2009 Eagles had, and definitely didn't pressure the QB or force turnovers like them.
It's great to have a new quarterback who can complete almost 65 percent of his passes, and who has had his completion percentage increase each of the past three seasons. The Raiders haven't had a QB start all 16 games and complete over 60 percent of his passes since Rich Gannon in 2002.
But if he can't stay upright, it will be hard for him to complete many passes. Campbell had to deal with poor protection in Washington, which affected his accuracy on down field throws, and it may follow him here.
Let's look at the top eight offensive linemen and what they bring to the table.
Mario Henderson - LT
Hederson came on strong in 2008 after getting out of former head coach Lane Kiffin's dog house. He parlayed that strong finish into an opportunity to start in 2009.
He had a great training camp, which re-assured the coaching staff he could be the starting left tackle. There wasn't much competition to fend off however after Kalif Barnes fractured his foot.
Since becoming the full-time left tackle, Henderson has been inconsistent. His lack of focus appears on the field at times, as he will just flat out miss a pass rusher going by him. Other times he gets in trouble by not moving his feet or leaning too far forward.
Mel Kiper's knock on him coming out of Florida State was that he was very athletic and a great physical specimen, but hadn't put it all together yet. You know, Al Davis' type of guy.
Without being inside the Raiders' facility every day, it's hard to know how that lack of focus or motivation manifests itself. Does he watch as much film as he should? Is he studious when watching the film? Or has he just gotten comfortable knowing there's not much competition for his spot?
Whatever the problem may be, he's shown flashes of great play, is very talented, and is still a young player. The Raiders need him to play more consistently, as left tackle is the most critical to pass protection. Hopefully rookie Jared Veldheer or Barnes can put some pressure on him to play better.
Robert Gallery - LG
It's been a long, strange journey for Gallery as an Oakland Raider. Not that it hasn't been strange for most long-tenured Raiders, but Gallery's has been exceptionally turbulent.
After being considered a bust as the second-overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft at left and right tackle, Gallery has settled into being the team's starting left guard, and its top offensive lineman. He many not be quick enough to play tackle in the NFL, but he is for a guard and is definitely strong enough to handle interior lineman.
Gallery missed 10 contests last season, and tried to play through other games banged up. When he went down, a lot of o-line shuffling occurred and the Raiders offensive-line struggles were magnified.
The Raiders need Gallery to be on the field or they can expect to struggle offensively again.
Samson Satele - C
The Raiders acquired Satele from the Miami Dolphins in 2009 for a fourth and sixth round draft pick, after the Dolphins signed former Raider center Jake Grove in free agency.
The knock on Satele in Miami was that he couldn't handle blocking the big interior lineman of the NFL. Most reviews said he wasn't able to push them, and they could push him.
Well, that evaluation has been true of his time as a Raider too. Satele and the Raiders attributed his problems with moving big lineman to a shoulder injury he suffered in 2008. He had his torn labrum fixed before coming over to the Raiders. One would expect his shoulder to still be weak just months removed from a procedure like that, and he also missed time with a calf injury last season.
However in the preseason opener against Dallas, we saw the same problems again. Satele had trouble pushing the Cowboys lineman backwards on run plays, and would get shoved into the backfield in pass protection. Too often we saw him looking backwards as the player he was blocking made a tackle.
If Satele can't handle the rigors of center in the NFL, he may find himself replaced by young-veteran Chris Morris or rookie Jered Veldheer.
Cooper Carlilse - RG
Former Denver Bronco Cooper Carlisle is the type of lineman Cable, then the offensive line coach, wanted for his zone blocking scheme when he was hired by Kiffin.
Yes, it felt gross mentioning the Broncos and Kiffin in the same sentence.
Carlisle is quick, pulls well, and gets down field. He's light for a modern NFL guard, as he is listed at 295 lbs. Unlike Satele, he is able to push lineman down field on run plays or at least do a good job of turning them to create a seal and an alley to run through. (Picture Vince Lombardi at the chalk board)
But like Satele, he gets pushed backwards by big interior lineman on pass plays. So Carlisle grades out as pretty average. He's steady if unspectacular, fits the system well, and is durable.
The Raiders will hang on to him until his pass-blocking becomes a major liability or they find a top-flight guard or younger player with a higher upside to replace him.
Langston Walker - RT
Where do I begin? First, let's address the obvious question most Raider fans have regarding Walker.
Why is he still here?
Is he back to be our designated field-goal blocker?
What seemed to be just an injury- necessitated, in-season signing last season with a familiar player, turned into a resigning and a starting spot for the 2010 season. I don't get it.
He was deemed not good enough to be resigned after the 2006 season, which he wasn't, and went to Buffalo. He was released by the Bills after two-and-a-half seasons, and was picked up by the Raiders when multiple lineman went down with injuries last year.
Langston is big and strong, but that's about it. He is not mobile enough for offensive tackle or to be in the Raiders zone blocking scheme. And he commits far too many penalties.
My good friend and Raiders season ticket holder, Todd Fournoy, refers to Walker as, "The Stuart Schweigert of the offensive line." As you can imagine, he didn't like Stuart Schweigert.
Walker is obviously someone Davis likes, and is a former second round pick out of Cal Berkeley in 2002.
Even with being a Davis favorite, I don't expect him to remain in the starting line up throughout the season due to his poor play. He could be replaced by Veldheer, Barnes, Henderson if he is moved from left tackle, or several street free agents and UFL players looking for NFL jobs.
Jared Veldheer - T/C
The rookie's name has been mentioned a few times in this article already. Veldheer was drafted in the third round out of football powerhouse, Hillsdale college. I assume it's somewhere near the mall.
Even though he is from a small school in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, he is a big guy with big-time talent. We've already heard from Jerry McDonald that he has done well in one-on-one passing drills and plays from scrimmage.
At 6'8" and 315 lbs, he fits the bill to play tackle in the NFL. He is very athletic for his size and seems to be a bright guy, as he is picking up two positions rather quickly.
He didn't just play well against his small school's competition in college, he dominated it. His progress will determine if the Raiders can move one of their problematic, weaker lineman to the bench and replace them with the more talented Veldheer this season.
Bruce Campbell - G/T
Campbell is a Davis type of guy as well. He's big, fast, strong, was a workout warrior, and has a lot of potential. Many draft "experts" expected Davis to take him in the first round. Instead the Raiders took him in the fourth.
Like Veldheer, the Raiders are having Campbell learn two positions to increase his versatility. He's had good moments and bad moments so far in camp. But overall, you can see the potential due to his athletic ability.
He was banged up in his junior season at Maryland, playing in nine games, but only finishing seven of them. He's still raw and inexperienced and will probably take two to three years to develop. But his upside makes him worth keeping an eye on, and keeping hope for him to improve the Raiders o-line down the road.
Chris Morris - C/G
A seventh round draft pick of the Raiders in 2006 out of Michigan State, Morris is versatile and steady, and started 10 games last season after only starting once in his previous three seasons.
It's unclear if Morris can be a starter in the NFL. He did okay filling in for various injured Raiders offensive lineman. He was the starting center for a stretch last year, filling in for Satele while his shoulder was still weak and had an injured calf, and then played guard after Gallery was injured.
He played better than Satele for while last season, and is pressuring him again for playing time. He's best suited for center, is still only 27 years old, and has only started 11 games in his career.
Satele makes more money than Morris, so the Raiders have to start the season with the depth chart at center as it is now. But If Satele continues to get pushed into the backfield, Morris could get another shot to be the Raiders starting center and should hang on to the job this time.
So there they are. The Raiders top eight. One potential pro-bowl caliber guard, and a lot of question marks.
The young Raider lineman are the unknown variables in the offensive line equation. Their progress determines if the Raiders have to stay with the veterans if they struggle and how much the Raiders o-line as a whole can improve from within.
It's important to have skill and speed, but without time or running lanes to use the speed, it's all for naught. The Raiders will have to rely on quick-hitting plays, rather than their beloved deep ball if the offensive line doesn't improve.
If it doesn't improve, the quarterback turnstile, and losing records, will continue.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Why Have African Americans Disappeared From Baseball?
Today all of Major League Baseball honors Jackie Robinson. But African Americans currently make up less than 10 percent of MLB rosters.
With any phenomenon in our society, people wonder why it has occurred and share their theories.
Some Black players feel they are still unfairly discriminated against. Torii Hunter recently said he felt MLB GMs weren't making an effort to sign Black players, because Latino players were easier to control.
Hunter would later say his comments were distorted, but it's hard to find a context in his entire statement that makes it seem like that wasn't his point.
Orlando Hudson recently commented that he felt African-American free agents were being excluded while lesser players of other ethnicities were being signed.
But if you look around MLB's free agent list, you'll see players of all races out of work due to Baseball's, and the entire country's, economic situation.
Even if these players' theories are a little off base or lack some proof, their frustration is visible, and understandable. They love baseball, and it pains them to not see their own as involved as they used to be.
But when one steps back, takes out the emotions involved, and looks analytically at the lack of Black players, there are tangible factors that have lead to their reduced percentage of rosters.
The basic socioeconomic issues that affect African Americans in the United States play a major factor.
There are a lot of empty lots and fields in most urban areas of the U.S. with high Black populations. If you have a group of friends and a football, game on.
Same with a park with a hoop. You have a few friends and a basketball, game on.
Baseball, however requires gloves, bats, and balls to be played properly with enough players to cover at least half a field. It's not as easy to put together a baseball game for poor black kids.
Now you may say that poor Latino kids can scrap together a game with sticks and rocks. That's true. But that's a reflection of cultural changes involving baseball's popularity.
Latin countries have their football as well. But baseball is at least number two in most Latin countries, and sometimes still the favorite sport depending on which country you're in.
Where as in the U.S., baseball is probably the third most popular sport, especially for African Americans, depending on what city you're in.
Football and basketball have passed baseball in popularity for Blacks. Not only is that a reflection of the pace of the game not being as satisfying to today's youths' short attention spans, but again the socioeconomic factors play a part.
For a poor Black kid from a rough part of town, spending a few seasons in the minors doesn't sound as cool as playing collegiate ball on a scholarship, and playing in the big leagues right away.
But frustrated African American players, like Hunter and Hudson, do have a point. Major League Baseball didn't do enough for the past couple decades to get Black kids involved in youth baseball.
Several teams have built clinics in Latin countries, and make a concerted effort to recruit Latino players.
Recently baseball has made an effort to fund RBI leagues and other youth leagues in inner cities, but for a long time it was missing. And even now it doesn't seem like the same effort is being made as it is in other Latino or mixed-race communities.
But it all has to start at the top. There are no Black owners in baseball. There is one Black GM, and two Black managers.
People hire who they know and are close with. Whether it be the owner hiring the GM, the GM hiring the manager and players, or the Manager hiring his assistants, who could became mangers down the road.
Until real change is made at the top, we won't see it below. But our sports leagues are a reflection of the country as a whole. Until things even out for African Americans in the rest of the business world, it won't change in baseball.
I hope inroads can be made in baseball for African Americans. I grew up a big fan of Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee and Vince Coleman, and believe in equality for all.
If I could play Branch Rickey today, I would.
With any phenomenon in our society, people wonder why it has occurred and share their theories.
Some Black players feel they are still unfairly discriminated against. Torii Hunter recently said he felt MLB GMs weren't making an effort to sign Black players, because Latino players were easier to control.
Hunter would later say his comments were distorted, but it's hard to find a context in his entire statement that makes it seem like that wasn't his point.
Orlando Hudson recently commented that he felt African-American free agents were being excluded while lesser players of other ethnicities were being signed.
But if you look around MLB's free agent list, you'll see players of all races out of work due to Baseball's, and the entire country's, economic situation.
Even if these players' theories are a little off base or lack some proof, their frustration is visible, and understandable. They love baseball, and it pains them to not see their own as involved as they used to be.
But when one steps back, takes out the emotions involved, and looks analytically at the lack of Black players, there are tangible factors that have lead to their reduced percentage of rosters.
The basic socioeconomic issues that affect African Americans in the United States play a major factor.
There are a lot of empty lots and fields in most urban areas of the U.S. with high Black populations. If you have a group of friends and a football, game on.
Same with a park with a hoop. You have a few friends and a basketball, game on.
Baseball, however requires gloves, bats, and balls to be played properly with enough players to cover at least half a field. It's not as easy to put together a baseball game for poor black kids.
Now you may say that poor Latino kids can scrap together a game with sticks and rocks. That's true. But that's a reflection of cultural changes involving baseball's popularity.
Latin countries have their football as well. But baseball is at least number two in most Latin countries, and sometimes still the favorite sport depending on which country you're in.
Where as in the U.S., baseball is probably the third most popular sport, especially for African Americans, depending on what city you're in.
Football and basketball have passed baseball in popularity for Blacks. Not only is that a reflection of the pace of the game not being as satisfying to today's youths' short attention spans, but again the socioeconomic factors play a part.
For a poor Black kid from a rough part of town, spending a few seasons in the minors doesn't sound as cool as playing collegiate ball on a scholarship, and playing in the big leagues right away.
But frustrated African American players, like Hunter and Hudson, do have a point. Major League Baseball didn't do enough for the past couple decades to get Black kids involved in youth baseball.
Several teams have built clinics in Latin countries, and make a concerted effort to recruit Latino players.
Recently baseball has made an effort to fund RBI leagues and other youth leagues in inner cities, but for a long time it was missing. And even now it doesn't seem like the same effort is being made as it is in other Latino or mixed-race communities.
But it all has to start at the top. There are no Black owners in baseball. There is one Black GM, and two Black managers.
People hire who they know and are close with. Whether it be the owner hiring the GM, the GM hiring the manager and players, or the Manager hiring his assistants, who could became mangers down the road.
Until real change is made at the top, we won't see it below. But our sports leagues are a reflection of the country as a whole. Until things even out for African Americans in the rest of the business world, it won't change in baseball.
I hope inroads can be made in baseball for African Americans. I grew up a big fan of Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee and Vince Coleman, and believe in equality for all.
If I could play Branch Rickey today, I would.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Chicago Blackhawks Are Where the St. Louis Blues Want to Be
The Blackhawks are the NHL’s Central Division Champs and the second seed in the Western Conference.
The Blues are fourth in the Central Division and 10th in the Western Conference. They officially had their playoffs hopes dashed last night, as Colorado clinched a spot with a shootout win in Vancouver.
The Blackhawks are further along in their rebuilding process and thus higher in the standings.
Of course, the Blackhawks had only made the playoffs once since the 1997-98 season until last year. After being playoff regulars for the better part of the previous 40 years, their last appearance in the postseason since a 1996-97 run was in 2001-02, where they lost in the first round to the Blues.
So that absence from postseason play will certainly help put them ahead of schedule of the Blues' rebuilding efforts, who were playoff regulars up until the lockout.
Hey, I couldn’t give the Blackhawks props like this without a backhanded compliment or two.
But the Blackhawks have done a good job with that head start. They have drafted very well. Their top picks have not just turned into quality players on their roster, but have surpassed that to become certified NHL stars.
The first pick of the 2007 draft, Patrick Kane, weaves through defenses, deking and dangling. He can set up his teammates or put the biscuit in the basket himself. He is currently ninth in the NHL in points with 85, averaging 1.08 points per game.
The third overall pick of the 2006 draft, Jonathan Toews, is the Blackhawks’ captain and has 65 points in 73 games, good for .89 points per game.
Defenseman Duncan Keith, a second round pick in 2002, has 66 points in 79 games.
Along with top-line offensive stars, the Blackhawks have drafted solid second-line guys and defensive players, such as Troy Brouwer or Brent Seabrook.
The highest a homegrown St. Louis Blue appears on the NHL’s points leader board is T.J. Oshie, with 46 points in 75 games. Andy McDonald leads the Blues with 52, followed by Alex Steen’s 47. Both of those players were acquired by trades.
Which brings us to the Blackhawks' player acquisitions via trade. Players like Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, and Andrew Ladd have panned out for the ‘Hawks.
The Blackhawks can make some of these moves due to their big-market budget—which brings us to their free agent acquisitions. It would be unfair to compare the Blues to this aspect of the Blackhawks’ rebuilding effort.
The biggest contracts the ‘Hawks doled out came after last season’s run to the Western conference finals, so technically, they are post-rebuild and are now part of a big market team’s strategy to win it all.
Even once the Blues do establish themselves as a playoff contender again, you won't see any 12-year, $62.8 million contracts like the one the Blackhawks gave Marian Hossa, nor an eight-year year contract worth $7 million a year like the one given to defenseman Brian Campbell.
But they’ve gotten what they paid for from those pricey free agents, whereas the Blues have gotten injuries from Paul Kariya and bought out the final year of Jay McKee’s four-year deal.
With being further along in rebuilding the team comes being further along in some young veterans' first or second contracts. This will lead to some difficult decisions for the Blackhawks this summer.
They re-upped Duncan Keith this past December with a 13-year, $72 million contract. But Chicago won’t be able to keep all of their young talent with contracts expiring soon, and you can expect some offer sheets to come from other teams.
The Blues wouldn’t mind having that problem eventually. It would most likely mean the Blues’ young players have climbed to a level in performance that commands that type of contract.
But the Blues will certainly welcome some contracts coming off their payroll this year and some budget space to go after some free agents. Perhaps they’ll spend it on some Chicago cap casualties.
To top it all off, the Blackhawks are very well coached. Too bad the Blues didn’t have an offensive mind like Joel Quenneville as their head coach. What NHL owner would fire that guy?
The blueprint is there to follow for the Blues. If they want to be a perennial playoff contender again, all they have to do is look across the ice at tonight’s opponent and upward in the standings.
The Blues are fourth in the Central Division and 10th in the Western Conference. They officially had their playoffs hopes dashed last night, as Colorado clinched a spot with a shootout win in Vancouver.
The Blackhawks are further along in their rebuilding process and thus higher in the standings.
Of course, the Blackhawks had only made the playoffs once since the 1997-98 season until last year. After being playoff regulars for the better part of the previous 40 years, their last appearance in the postseason since a 1996-97 run was in 2001-02, where they lost in the first round to the Blues.
So that absence from postseason play will certainly help put them ahead of schedule of the Blues' rebuilding efforts, who were playoff regulars up until the lockout.
Hey, I couldn’t give the Blackhawks props like this without a backhanded compliment or two.
But the Blackhawks have done a good job with that head start. They have drafted very well. Their top picks have not just turned into quality players on their roster, but have surpassed that to become certified NHL stars.
The first pick of the 2007 draft, Patrick Kane, weaves through defenses, deking and dangling. He can set up his teammates or put the biscuit in the basket himself. He is currently ninth in the NHL in points with 85, averaging 1.08 points per game.
The third overall pick of the 2006 draft, Jonathan Toews, is the Blackhawks’ captain and has 65 points in 73 games, good for .89 points per game.
Defenseman Duncan Keith, a second round pick in 2002, has 66 points in 79 games.
Along with top-line offensive stars, the Blackhawks have drafted solid second-line guys and defensive players, such as Troy Brouwer or Brent Seabrook.
The highest a homegrown St. Louis Blue appears on the NHL’s points leader board is T.J. Oshie, with 46 points in 75 games. Andy McDonald leads the Blues with 52, followed by Alex Steen’s 47. Both of those players were acquired by trades.
Which brings us to the Blackhawks' player acquisitions via trade. Players like Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, and Andrew Ladd have panned out for the ‘Hawks.
The Blackhawks can make some of these moves due to their big-market budget—which brings us to their free agent acquisitions. It would be unfair to compare the Blues to this aspect of the Blackhawks’ rebuilding effort.
The biggest contracts the ‘Hawks doled out came after last season’s run to the Western conference finals, so technically, they are post-rebuild and are now part of a big market team’s strategy to win it all.
Even once the Blues do establish themselves as a playoff contender again, you won't see any 12-year, $62.8 million contracts like the one the Blackhawks gave Marian Hossa, nor an eight-year year contract worth $7 million a year like the one given to defenseman Brian Campbell.
But they’ve gotten what they paid for from those pricey free agents, whereas the Blues have gotten injuries from Paul Kariya and bought out the final year of Jay McKee’s four-year deal.
With being further along in rebuilding the team comes being further along in some young veterans' first or second contracts. This will lead to some difficult decisions for the Blackhawks this summer.
They re-upped Duncan Keith this past December with a 13-year, $72 million contract. But Chicago won’t be able to keep all of their young talent with contracts expiring soon, and you can expect some offer sheets to come from other teams.
The Blues wouldn’t mind having that problem eventually. It would most likely mean the Blues’ young players have climbed to a level in performance that commands that type of contract.
But the Blues will certainly welcome some contracts coming off their payroll this year and some budget space to go after some free agents. Perhaps they’ll spend it on some Chicago cap casualties.
To top it all off, the Blackhawks are very well coached. Too bad the Blues didn’t have an offensive mind like Joel Quenneville as their head coach. What NHL owner would fire that guy?
The blueprint is there to follow for the Blues. If they want to be a perennial playoff contender again, all they have to do is look across the ice at tonight’s opponent and upward in the standings.
Reality Sets In: The St. Louis Blues Are Done
At least we’re no longer in limbo, Blues fans. We know the Blues aren’t making the playoffs.
Maybe it’s best to press the reset button anyway, and wash away the problems of this season, though I’d like to think a postseason would have done that as well.
It will be good to put all of the the issues that plagued this team into the past: The blown third-period leads, the awful home record, the goal-scoring struggles, the tentativeness, hesitancy, and poor decision making, the sophomore slumps and down years, and the losses in game two of back-to-backs.
This team is definitely aptly named beyond St. Louis’ rich tradition in Blues music. I have been feeling blue since Sunday.
Every St. Louis Blues season has an ending, obviously. Historically, every Blues postseason has ended in a loss for our cup-less franchise. Since the lockout, every regular season has been over before the schedule was finished, outside of last year.
My emotional and logical sides have agreed that this season is done. I’ll still be pulling for a miracle. I hope they win every last game and somehow sneak into the eighth seed. And of course I want to at least see a strong finish to carry into next season.
I took a little trip back to St. Louis for a wedding and my birthday a little over a week ago, and I had hoped to be reveling in St. Louis Blues fever.
I had hoped to make a bold prediction after the Colorado game, that the Blues would be playoff-bound. In my opening I said, “I was putting all my chips on the table,” and predicting the Blues were making the postseason.
I had to scrap that for writing an obituary after that home loss to the Avalanche. Last year’s finish wouldn’t be duplicated, though the Blues tried the same pattern.
But then I held off on writing them off. Wins in New York and New Jersey reignited my optimism. So I’ve had a couple of different drafts ready to go as the Blues held us in limbo.
The blown 2-1 lead at home against the Nashville Predators on Sunday officially put the fork in them.
They never got as hot as last year’s team, and several players had a drop in production. I’m of the theory that last season’s team overachieved, and that it really is still a developing franchise.
There’s a lot to look forward to with the Blues, at least. Patrik Berglund, Brad Boyes, and Paul Kariya all played much better in the second half of the season. Perhaps there’s still a spot for them on this team next year, including Kariya.
David Backes has grown into the leader that fans, management, and his teammates thought he would. T.J. Oshie is going to be an All Star someday. Erik Johnson recovered from his knee injury to look very much worth the first overall pick of 2006.
There are two good veteran options in goal. If the Blues can’t keep Chris Mason, they could elevate Ty Conklin and have one of the franchise’s younger goaltenders back him up.
The blue line is deep, and Roman Polak has turned into a solid defenseman. If the Blues are looking to move Eric Brewer, there’s one less year on his contract, making it that much easier.
The Blues were smart to leave the interim tag on Davis Payne, just so they can still look around at who’s available in the offseason. They would probably remove “interim” from his title if the Blues make the playoffs, and he does seem like a good fit for this team, but at least the Blues can still see who’s out there.
Last year’s playoff push gave everyone involved with the Blues false hopes this season, including the Blues themselves. The players felt they could repeat last season’s feat without an improved effort or more focus.
The coaching change brought some improvement in player attitudes and strategy, even though the gain in wins was minimal. But that wasn’t quite enough to spark this team and improve its consistency.
Fans, media, and management also had lofty expectations after last season's frantic finish to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. But we’ve learned this team isn’t ready to put together back-to-back playoff seasons.
There’s some solace in knowing they’re not a playoff team this year, even though it’s not the closure I wanted. It's like getting a break-up over or receiving word from your doctor about a test.
I’m feeling blue like the rest of you Blues fans, but at least now our hearts can move on and management can focus on improving this team in the offseason. Spring is here; it’s time to breath new life into the franchise.
Maybe it’s best to press the reset button anyway, and wash away the problems of this season, though I’d like to think a postseason would have done that as well.
It will be good to put all of the the issues that plagued this team into the past: The blown third-period leads, the awful home record, the goal-scoring struggles, the tentativeness, hesitancy, and poor decision making, the sophomore slumps and down years, and the losses in game two of back-to-backs.
This team is definitely aptly named beyond St. Louis’ rich tradition in Blues music. I have been feeling blue since Sunday.
Every St. Louis Blues season has an ending, obviously. Historically, every Blues postseason has ended in a loss for our cup-less franchise. Since the lockout, every regular season has been over before the schedule was finished, outside of last year.
My emotional and logical sides have agreed that this season is done. I’ll still be pulling for a miracle. I hope they win every last game and somehow sneak into the eighth seed. And of course I want to at least see a strong finish to carry into next season.
I took a little trip back to St. Louis for a wedding and my birthday a little over a week ago, and I had hoped to be reveling in St. Louis Blues fever.
I had hoped to make a bold prediction after the Colorado game, that the Blues would be playoff-bound. In my opening I said, “I was putting all my chips on the table,” and predicting the Blues were making the postseason.
I had to scrap that for writing an obituary after that home loss to the Avalanche. Last year’s finish wouldn’t be duplicated, though the Blues tried the same pattern.
But then I held off on writing them off. Wins in New York and New Jersey reignited my optimism. So I’ve had a couple of different drafts ready to go as the Blues held us in limbo.
The blown 2-1 lead at home against the Nashville Predators on Sunday officially put the fork in them.
They never got as hot as last year’s team, and several players had a drop in production. I’m of the theory that last season’s team overachieved, and that it really is still a developing franchise.
There’s a lot to look forward to with the Blues, at least. Patrik Berglund, Brad Boyes, and Paul Kariya all played much better in the second half of the season. Perhaps there’s still a spot for them on this team next year, including Kariya.
David Backes has grown into the leader that fans, management, and his teammates thought he would. T.J. Oshie is going to be an All Star someday. Erik Johnson recovered from his knee injury to look very much worth the first overall pick of 2006.
There are two good veteran options in goal. If the Blues can’t keep Chris Mason, they could elevate Ty Conklin and have one of the franchise’s younger goaltenders back him up.
The blue line is deep, and Roman Polak has turned into a solid defenseman. If the Blues are looking to move Eric Brewer, there’s one less year on his contract, making it that much easier.
The Blues were smart to leave the interim tag on Davis Payne, just so they can still look around at who’s available in the offseason. They would probably remove “interim” from his title if the Blues make the playoffs, and he does seem like a good fit for this team, but at least the Blues can still see who’s out there.
Last year’s playoff push gave everyone involved with the Blues false hopes this season, including the Blues themselves. The players felt they could repeat last season’s feat without an improved effort or more focus.
The coaching change brought some improvement in player attitudes and strategy, even though the gain in wins was minimal. But that wasn’t quite enough to spark this team and improve its consistency.
Fans, media, and management also had lofty expectations after last season's frantic finish to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. But we’ve learned this team isn’t ready to put together back-to-back playoff seasons.
There’s some solace in knowing they’re not a playoff team this year, even though it’s not the closure I wanted. It's like getting a break-up over or receiving word from your doctor about a test.
I’m feeling blue like the rest of you Blues fans, but at least now our hearts can move on and management can focus on improving this team in the offseason. Spring is here; it’s time to breath new life into the franchise.
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